Pallet feeder mechanism for concrete block machines



H. D. coRwlN 2,586,210

PALLET FEEDER MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINES Feb. 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 16, 1948 8 mm R Feb. 19, 1952 H. D. CORWIN 2,586,210

PALLET FEEDER MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Q m 2 2 /r N 35 I 2% i ,Tf-

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PALLET FEEDER MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIE- mmr ulw/ 2 GWW H. D. CORWIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 19, 1952 PALLET FEEDER MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 16, 1948 W E. K MN o 9 i m Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE PALLET FEEDER MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINES Howard D. Corwin, Jackson, Mich., assignor to The Lith-I-Bar Company, Holland, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application September 16, 1948, Serial No. 49,618. Divided and this application October 5, 1950, Serial No. 188,514

2 Claims.

2 ed on a floor l2 by means of a base I 4 having upstanding side plates or flanges l6 forming a roundly rectangular well. Positioned at the four corners of this well are the vertical columns I8,

kind which comprises a molding box adaptedtobe 20, 22 and 24, which also extend at their upper filled with the cement or like moldable mix and ends into a vertical well formed by the upper side the bottom of which box is constituted by a plates 26 and the top plate 21. This open boxlike board (usually of metal) upon which the blocks structure is further strengthened by the addition are molded and carried away from the molding of a pair of intermediate transverse plates 28 and station, the machine also embodying a ram struc- 10 30 which are attached to the columns 18 and 24, ture, operable to pack the material in the molding and the columns 20 and 22, respectively, to box, a hopper or equivalent device for feeding the strengthen the structure, and to support the work material to the box and mechanism for feeding table. the boards through the machine. By the expres- Situated within the space defined by the vertision cement it is intended to cove all types cal columns I8, 20, 22 and 24 is a vertically movof moldable material employed in the manufacable cage structure, which will be called the ture of building blocks, including, in particular, moldbox cage and is indicated generally at 32. the well known cinder and concrete blocks. The moldbox cage 32 comprises a horizontal It is an object of this invention to provide in platform 34, a numbe of upright frame mema cement block making machine, which is combers 36, and the moldbox 38 supp d y the ppact and of relatively small size and with which per ends of the uprights 36. it is possible to mold blocks at an extremely high The moldbox 38 may be constructed in any rate of speed, a novel board or pallet feeding arknown manner but in the example illustrated in rangement. the drawings a particular construction has been Other objects and advantages of the invention 25 adopted to suit the molding of three blocks, siwill be clear from a consideration of the followmultaneously, it being appreciated however that ing detailed description of one practical embodithe actual number may be varied. These blocks, ment of the invention with reference to the acin the particular example illustrated, are of reccompanying drawings, in which, tangular shape and are preferably molded (as is Fig. I is a side elevational view of a block usual) with one or more vertically extending cavibuilding machine constructed according to my ties by the use of appropriate core members 10- invention, cated in the moldbox. It is desired to point out Fig. II is an end elevational view of Fig. I lookhere, however, that the invention is not limited ing on the right hand end thereof, to this or any other particula shape of the Fig, III is a plan view of Fi I take ,1; th blocks, since these may be solid or cored or of level of the work table, with certain parts revarious shapes and sizes including, cylindrical, moved for clarity of presentation, and drawn conical and pyramidal p to a larger scale, The particular moldbox shown in the drawings Fig. IV is a transverse section on the line (Figs. I and II) is of rectangular shape and is IVIV of Fig. III, open at both top and bottom. In operation its Fig. V is an enlarged View in section along the bottom is constituted by one of the workboards, line V-V of Fig. III, and showing the constructo be described later and indicated at I20. The intion of the boardways, terior of the moldbox is subdivided by transverse- Fig. VI is a schematic diagram of the combined 1y extending partition walls 38a to form three fluid pressure and electrical circuit provided to compartments 38b in each of which there is 10- eiIect and control the operatin cycle of my imcated one or more vertical core members 380, the proved block making machine, number and shape of which will depend upon the Fig. VII is a transverse section on the line num r and h p of v i d ired t be pr VIIVII of Fig. I, cut in the molded blocks. These core members Fig. VIII is a plan view of the moldbox, and 386 are suspended from t v ely ex di Fig. IX is a plan view along the top of the mix stretcher bars 38d which are themselves supportcharge slide, with certain parts not shown, and ed upon flanges 38c formed along the upper edges other broken away for clarification. of the moldbox side walls.

In Figs. I and II, I have shown my block mold- Fastened to the upright frame members 36 for ing machine, indicated generally at l0, support- 66 rolling engagement with the sides of the vertical columns I8, 20, 22 and 24 are a number of antifriction rollers or guide wheels 40 which guide the moldbox cage 32 in its vertical movement within the space defined by the four columns.

The moldbox cage '32 is supported to move within the main framework of the machine by the engagement of the piston rod 42 with the base 34, and by the movement imparted to the rod 42 from a fluid-pressure cylinder 44, which is preferably mounted partially in the floor l2, and within the well defined by the side plates IS.-

It may be mentioned here that I propose to employ hydraulic cylinders and associated pistons and pipe lines for effecting the required movements of the various operational parts of my machine but at the same time I do not wish to preclude the possibility of employing a pneumatic pressure operating medium.

The piston rod 42 extends through a bellows 48, which protects the rod from the molding material. I have also shown in Fig. I a broken-off hydraulic line 48, which leads to the rod end of the cylinder 44, and a similar line 58 which leads to the head end of the cylinder 44. From this structure, it should be apparent that the introduction of hydraulic fluid through the line 58 into the head end of the cylinder 44 will cause the piston rod 42, and, therefore, the moldbox cage 32 and the moldbox 38, to move vertically, the same being controlled and guided by the guide wheels 43. The releasing of pressure from the line 50 and the introduction of hydraulic pressure fluid to the line 48 will cause the moldbox cage 32 to move in a downward direction, within the limits of the structure.

Attached to the upper plate 21 is a further plate member 52, from which is suspended the ram operating cylinder 54, with a hydraulic line 55 entering the head end of this cylinder and another hydraulic line 58 entering the rod end of the cylinder. The piston rod 68 supports and controls the movement of the ram cage 62, which employs a number of guide wheels 64 for rolling engagement with the sides of the columns I8, 20,

22 and 24, and supports the ram structure, indicated generally at 66, as well as vibrators I58. These vibrators are shown only generally in Figs. I and VI and their purpose is to shake the ram structure and thereby assist in the packing of the molding material into the moldbox. The ram structure comprises a series of plates 65a, there being two provided for operation in association with each moldbox compartment 38b, positioned to clear the partition walls 38a and the stretcher bars 38d and having their opposed inside faces recessed, as indicated at 66b to clear the mold cores 380.

From the above it will be appreciated that, upon the introduction of hydraulic fluid through the line 56 to the head end of the cylinder 54, the ram cage 62 will move downwardly and thereby force the lower ends of the ram plates 66a against the molding material previously deposited in the moldbox compartments 38b in a manner yet to be described. Upon the release of hydraulic pres sure from the line 56 and the supplying of fluid through the line 58 to the rod end of the cylinder 54, the ram cage 62 and its associated ram structures 6-6 will be lifted from engagement with the material within the moldbox 38 and will be returned to the position shown in Fig. I.

It must be appreciated that the operations of the ram cage 62 and the moldbox cage 32 are entirely independent.

To provide an automatic transfer of. the correct 4 amount of cement or other moldable mixture from the hopper 10 to the moldbox 38, I have devised a mix charge slide, indicated generally at 12, and mounted such slide on a pair of arms I I which extend rearwardly from the machine, as seen in Fig. II, and which arms are supported in any suitable manner, such as by the bracket plate I6. The arms I4 support a table I8 between them, which table extends up to the upper edge of that side wall of the moldbox from which this table extends and serves to support the slide I? for reciprocatory sliding movement thereon. The slide I2 is of elongated rectangular form, as seen particularly in Fig. IX, and comprises a rear portion constituted by a plate 82 and a front portion, in the form of a bottomless rectangular chamber BI corresponding approximately in shape and size to the moldbox 38, this chamber Bl being also open at the top. The construction and arrangement is such that in one extreme position, as shown in Figs. II and IX, this chamber is positioned immediately over the top of tho moldbox 32 and the plate 82 closes the bottom or" the hopper I0, whereas in its other extreme position the chamber 8| is positioned immediately opposite the bottom of the hopper and is accordingly then filled from the hopper. It will be readily understood that this particular construction amounts to an automatic metering and valve control of the mix charge. Attached to the rearwardly extending ear 84 is the pivoted arm 88 which in turn is attached to another pivoted arm 98. Mounted between the pivoted arm 88 and the frame of the machine is the mix charge cylinder 82 having its head end mounted on the machine III, and having its rod 94 pivotally mounted on the arm 88. It will be understood that the introduction of hydraulic fluid through the line 96 into the head end of the cylinder 92 will result in a rearward movement of the mix charge slide "(2, back to the center position 98. From that posi-- tion, introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure through the line I into the rod end of the cylinder 92 will result in a movement of the mix charge slide 12 forwardly to the center position 86. With the mix charge slide I2 in the position shown in Figs. II and IX, the mix is dumped from the bottomless mix receptacle 88 into the moldbox 38. To facilitate this dumping operation and to make sure that the entire contents of the receptacle are dumped into the moldbox 38, I have provided the receptacle with a series of vibrator blades I02 carrying masses I03 and arranged for the same to be actuated by a vibrator I04 secured upon the receptacle 88. When the vibrator I04 is operating the entire mix charge slide (2 will vibrate slightly, and the blades I92 will vibrate quite actively.

As is usual, in the art of block making I employ wooden pallets to constitute work boards upon which the cement blocks are formed and supported. In this connection, it is necessary to have, first, a station to which the work boards with the blocks thereon are moved, and from which last mentioned station the blocks may be moved upon their boards for curing and storage. To provide for these three stations, I have constructed a work table, indicated generally at I06, in the form of an elongated rectangular frame which extends outwardly on both sides of the machine III. This work table frame is made up of a pair of longitudinal rails comprised one by an adjacent pair of rails I08 and III] and the other by an adjacent pair of rails H2 and H4. These rails are supported upon transverse side plates 28 and 30 themselves secured to opposite sides of the machine columns. of these pairs of rails, those at I08 and I I4 extend the full length of the work table frame I06, while those at I I and H2 extend from the work board storage station and terminate adjacent the plate 28. All these rails are preferably formed with their top edges bevelled, chamfered, or somewhat rounded in order that any of the cement mix which happens to fall loosely as waste around the machine will not adhere to or pile up on the rails. V v

At the first station on the work table I06, I have provided a hopper comprising a U-shaped vertical rear section H6 and a U-shaped vertical front section II8. These sections H6 and H8 extend transversely across the boardways constituted by the rail structures above described and define a rectangular hopper II into which the work boards I20 may be stacked in orderly arrangement. The section H6 is provided with a transversely extending lower aperture I22, the purpose of which will appear later. Likewise the section H8 is provided with a transversely extending lower aperture I24 through which the lowermost board of the stack may be moved along the work table I08 from the hopper M5 to the second station, where this board forms the bottom of the moldbox 38.

To provide for the guiding of the work boards I20 as they are moved from the hopper II5 to beneath the moldbox 38 I have provided a pair of vertically positioned outer walls I26 (Fig. IV) which may be fastened to the rest of the structure by any suitable means such as the angle members I28. The guide walls I26 extend from the rear wall I I6 of the hopper to a point substantially adjacent the vertical columns I8 and 24.

Referring particularly to Figs. III, IV and V. an understanding may be obtained of the rail structure which I employ to move the work boards from the hopper II5 to beneath the moldbox 38, and then to the third or removal station, this being located upon the left-hand part of the table I06 as seen in Fig. III. In this connection it has already been mentioned that the rail structure forms the longitudinals I 08, H0 and H2, H4 of the elongated rectangular frame, constituting the work table I06.

Each such longitudinal is of composite construction, as shown in Figs. IV and V, and is formed by a pair of main rails I 32 (the innermost of which is shorter than the other and corresponds to the aforesaid longitudinal H0 or H2) and by separate top rails I34 secured upon the upper edges of their respective main rails, as by screws I30. These rails are arranged in parallel spaced relationship to form an interior 1ongitudinal channel I40 between them which is open at both top and bottom and is recessed upon its opposite and closed side walls to form slideways I 4| for a pair of longitudinally extending slide plates I42 held together, as by rivets I46, with the intervention of spacer blocks I44, disposed at longitudinally spaced intervals along the opposed slide plates I42. The upper and lower edges of these plates are overlapped by the overhanging portions I32a and I34a of the main rails and of their upper and separate rails I34, whereby these surfaces are protected from the molding material which tends to fall through the openings between the rails and the interposed spacer blocks and hooks I54 and I58, now to be described. These are provided between the opposed pairs of slide plates I42 for movement with the latter and the one pair of hooks is longitudinally spaced from the outer pair a distance corresponding to that required to permit the simultaneous pulling action above mentioned. It may be stated here, however, that the one pair of hooks I58 operate to pull the work board at the bottom of the moldbox 38 whereas the other pair of hooks I54 operate to pull the board at the bottom of the hopper II5, the transverse slot I22 at the remote end of the hopper serving to permit the necessary ingress of these hooks for this purpose, as will be understood.

The hooks are pivotally mounted upon the slide plates I42, at one end, as indicated at I54a and I580. and at their opposite and hook ends have cam surfaces I56. By a suitable spring or weight mounting of the hooks provision may be made whereby their hook ends normally project above the work table rails in position to engage their respective work boards for the desired pulling engagement therewith but are capable of being automatically depressed, by the camming action produced upon these cam surfaces I56 when the slides I42 are moved back after the completion of a board pulling operation.

Secured to the ends of the slide members I42, nearest the vertical machine columns I8 and 24, and connecting them together for co-ordinated movement, is a bar' I48 (Fig. III) which is further connected with a piston rod I50 of a Work board transfer cylinder I52.

It will be understood that the introduction of pressure fluid through the pipe line I60 to the head end of this cylinder I52 will impart movement to the bar I48 and hence to the slide members I42 in one direction, to cause the hooks to engage their respective boards and pull them along the work table, as above mentioned. On the other hand, the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure through the line I62 to the rod end of the cylinder I52 will return the slides I 42 to their original position, as shown in Fig. III. A cover plate I64 extends from the rod end of the cylinder I52 to the termination of the rails I08 and H4 at the connecting cross bar I66 (Fig. III), and functions to prevent any of the floating molding material from contacting the piston rod I50. The rails I08 and H4 are formed with indentations I68 to permit the use of mechanical lift trucks for the removal from the work table I06 of a work board loaded with newly molded blocks, as seen at the left of Fig. I.

It will be appreciated, from a consideration of the description thus far, that I have, at every opportunity, attempted to safeguard the operating parts of the machine from the loose particles of the molding material, which tend to fall about the machine during the molding operation. I have provided that all machine surfaces which require to have operational engagement with other machine surfaces are either covered to protect them from such material, or are so shaped (as by making the upper surfaces of the spacer blocks I44 of shed formation) as to dislodge any material which tends to collect thereon. This will materially lessen the operating cost of the machine, since it will be relatively easy to keep clean.

Operation Referring now to Fig. VI, the schematic diagram showing the hydraulic or fluid pressure system and the electrical control circuit for effecting and controlling the automatic operation of my block molding machine I0, it will at once be appreciated that such a control system will work best if it is isolated completely from any of the dirt normally associated with the making of cement blocks, and I therefore recommend that as much of the control panel and mechanism, including the hydraulic tank and electric motor and pump, should be placed in a separate room from the one in which the block making machine is operated and that electric wires and pipes should be provided to make the required connections between the two rooms.

I have devised this particular pressure system and control circuit in order that the operation of the block building machine shall be completely automatic, aside from the filling of the hopper 10, the placing of the work boards I29 in their hopper H5, and the removing of the completed blocks from the machine.

I have also made use of standard Vickers hydraulic pumps and valve units and connected the same in a hydraulic circuit, as will appear from the following description and will be clear to those skilled in the art of hydraulics, in particular.

Briefly, the hydraulic circuit comprises a Vickers double pump and combination valve unit I14, actuated by a separate electric motor I12, a breather tank I!!! filled with the hydraulic medium, a relief valve I10, four Vickers double solenoid controlled pilot operated fourway valves, indicated generally at A, a de-prassurizing and pressure control valve I18 and three "Vickers pilot operated check valves, indicated generally at B, B and C, the latter being connected for use as a sequence valve.

As these pump and valve units are well known standard equipment in the hydraulic field it is considered unnecessary to illustrate or describe the same in detail and that the following sequential and functional operation thereof to suit the various movements of the machine components i. e. the work board feed hooks I54 and I58, the mix charge slide I2, the moldbox 38 and the ram structure 66.

At the commencement of a complete operating cycle of the machine these components are situated as follows:

(1) The hooks I54 and I58 are situated as shown in Fig. I, with the hooks I54 ready to pull a work board I20 forward along the work table I06.

The mix-charge slide I2 is in a rearward position, as compared with its position in Fig. II, with its charge receiving compartment SI located at the bottom of the hopper I0.

The moldbox is in the raised position, in which the ram structure 66 is nested within the moldbox, and

The ram structure is in the raised position, as shown in Fig. I.

Now let it be assumed that the oil tank I10 is filled, motor I'I2 has been started, pump I14 is circulating oil back to the tank I10 through the relief valve I10, this valve being vented through the now de-energized solenoid valve I18 to return the entire pump output back into the tank I10. To commence an operating cycle, the start button I80 is pressed, which closes the contractor I 02 and energizes the solenoid valve I'E'B, sending hydraulic fluid under pressure to the machine through the valve I84 to the head end of the work board transfer cylinder I52. This causes the bottom Work board I20 in the work board hopper I I to be pushed along the work table I05 to beneath the moldbox 38, to close the latter.

The limit switch I86 is also closed, which in turn energizes the time switch I38, and energizes the contactor I90 which momentarily causes the valve I92 to shift, allowing fluid to flow to the rod end of the moldbox lift cylinder 44 to bring the moldbox 33 down onto the work board I20. As pressure is driven into the cylinder 44 the check valve I94 is held open allowing fluid from the head end of the cylinder 44 to return to the tank I10. 'This check valve I94 positively holds the moldbox 38 in the up position when it is supposed to be up. As the moldbox 38 descends, it closes the limit switch I96, which energizes the time switch I98, which in turn energizes the contactor 200, momentarily causing the valve 202 to shift and allow fluid to flow to the rod end of the mix transfer cylinder 92 which moves the material containing slide compartment 8| from the hopper 10 to above the moldbox 39. As the mix charge slide I2 stops it closes the limit switch 204 which energizes the time switch 205, in turn energizing the contactor 209 and starting the vibrator I04, which vibrates the charge box 80 and the blade members I02 to clear the cement mix out of the compartment 8I. The time of vibration may be set by adjustment of the time switch 206. As soon as this time has elapsed, the time switch 205 reverses, which energizes the contactor 2 I0 to cause the valve 2 I2 to shift and allow the pressure fluid to flow to the head end of the mix transfer cylinder 92, thereby returning the mix slide I2 to the starting point, where it is automatically reloaded from the hopper I0. At this point the limit switch 2I4 is closed, energizing the time switch 2I6, which in turn energizes the contactors 2I0 and 220 to momentarily cause valve 222 to shift and allow the fluid to operate against the plug 224 in the valve 222; this also causes the valve 226 to shift and allow fluid to flow through the sequence valve 228 to the head end of the ram cylinder 54, thereby lowering the ram 56 onto the surface of the material in the moldbox. As pressure is built up in the cylinder 54, the check valve 230 is opened, to allow fluid from the rod end of the cylinder 54 to return to the tank I70. This check valve 230 positively holds the ram 66 in the up position during the time it is supposed to be up and performs similarly to the check valve I94. As the ram 69 reaches the bottom, the pressure breaks through the sequence valve 228 and flows to the rod end of the board transfer cylinder I52 which returns the board transfer slide and the operating members I42 to their starting point. As the ram reaches the limit of its descending motion it also closes the limit switch 232, which energizes the time switch 234, which in turn energizes the contactor 236' to operate the vibrator 68 on the ram for an adjustable and predetermined time, after which the time switch 234 reverses, shutting off the vibrator 68 and energizing the contactor 233. The latter, in turn, energizes the valve 240, allowing fluid to flow without restriction through the valve I94 to the head end of the moldbox lift cylinder 44, causing the moldbox, together with its frame structure 36, to be lifted bodily against the still covered ram structure 66, whereby the latter moves through the moldbox and, by continued pressure on top of the molded blocks strips the latter from the mold and leaves them supported upon the work board. As the moldbox 38 reaches its topmost position, it closes the limit switch 242 which closes the contactor 244 which in turn energizes the valve 246 to allow the fluid to flow without restriction through thevalve 230 to the rod end of the ram cylinder 54, thereby causing the ram structure 66 to be lifted to its raised position. As the ram 66 reaches its top limit it closes the limit switch 243, thereby closing the contactor 250, which in turn reenergizes the valve I84, so that the machine is re-set for a fresh operating cycle.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that a failure of the electrical current in this system will not affect the timing of the operation upon the restoration of electric service. The equipment has also been designed to operate at a very high rate of speed, in that all of the timers can be set at between one and one and a half seconds, with the exception of the time switch 234, which controls the ram pressure time, and the time switch 206, which controls the mix dump time, which may be set as desired to accomplish the required operation.

In order to stop the automatic cycle, the stop switch 252 is pressed which opens the contactor I82 which in turn de-energizes the solenoid valve 118 and allows the fluid to be pumped through the relief valve I16 back into the tank I10.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for molding building blocks with the use of a moldbox having an open bottom adapted to be closed by a separate block supporting workboard, a worktable for supporting said workboard, said worktable including a plurality of composite longitudinal rail structures upon which the board is moved to the moldbox bottom closing position, each rail structure being formed of a pair of parallel rails assembled in juxtaposition to provide an interior channel open at the top and bottom and having recessed interior side walls, board propelling operative members confined within each said recessed side wall and adapted for longitudinal 10 a movement therein while protected from the effect of the molding material tending to fall through the top opening in the rail structure, and spacer means between said operative members, said spacer means being located in the open channel portion.

2. In a machine for molding building blocks onto separate workboards through a moldbox having both its top and bottom open, the provision of a worktable adapted to support and move said workboards, said worktable comprising a plurality of composite longitudinal rails, each of said rails including a pair of longitudinally extending parallel vertical side walls mounted on said machine and enclosing a channel which is open at both the top and bottom, said side walls being formed with parallel internal channels opening to said first channel, a longitudinal strip member mounted for reciprocatory sliding movement in each of said second channels, means mounted on said strip members and positioned in said first channel to maintain each pair of said strip members in spaced relationship and in position in said second channel, means mounted on said strip members and adapted to move said workboards along said worktable, means connecting said strip members together for unitary movement, and power means associated with said connecting means and adapted to impart reciprocatory movement to said strip members.

HOWARD D. CORWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,467,203 Gelbman Apr. 12, 1949 2,513,028 Lagarde June 27, 1950 

